Watch oiler



June 3o, 1953 H. R. KOLLMEYER 2,643,801

WATCH OILER Filed Dec. 22. 1948 INVENTOR. NM\I Herman R Konme er 26 g Z@w ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE This invention relatesto improvements in watch oilers, particularly for oiling watch pivotsand jewels. Every watchmaker knows the importance of getting fresh cleanoil into a watch especially in the jewels. It is also of primeimportance that the correct amount of oil be applied to each jewel. Anoiler which picks up dirt when it is placed aside or which dispenses thesame size drop of oil at each application is of course useless to gainthese ends.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an oiler which willretain the advantages and overcome diiculties and disadvantagesexperienced with conventional methods of oiling watch parts. In one ofthese methods it has been the practice to place the oil needed for adays work in a small cup, about the size of a dime, made of glass andmounted in a wood base with a cover to protect the oil fromcontamination by dust. The oiler itself is la wire set in a metal orplastic handle with a specially shaped tip usually gold plated. It alsois ltted with a cover member to prevent dust from collecting on it. Inuse the watchmaker begins the Vday by throwing out any leit over cil,then cleaning the cup and supplying it with fresh oil from a bottle.This must be done if fresh oil is to be had for the days work. The oildoes not stay fresh in the cup even with a cover on. To oil a watch theuser must rst remove the cover protecting the oiler, then the cover fromthe cup. Then he dips the oiler in the cup and touches it to the watchpivot. -A small drop of oil is then placed in the watch jewel. On largepivots a larger oiler is used or the small one is dipped several times.This method consumes time and wastes oil. It also is not entirelysatisfactory because the oil is not protected at all times from dust inthe air since the cover is on the cup during the few minutes it takes tooil a watch.

A further method is a fountain oiler consisting of a capillary tube(usually metal) xed in a glass tube four inches long and aboutone-eighth to one-quarter inch in diameter. The watchmaker draws asupply of oil directly from the bottle (soda straw style) and it is heldin the oiler by capillary attraction. When oil is desired the part to beoiled is touched with the end of the metal tube. The disadvantage hereis that the amount of oil deposited at each touching cannot becontrolled and as a consequence over oiling is very often the result.They are very unsatisfactory on small ladies watches since la tube smallenough for these pivots is too fragl to be practical.

vIn the oiler, made according to my invention, the oil is protected fromcontamination by dust up to the moment of its application to the pivot yit can in the wire type of oilers, and even with greater precision.Therefore, the advantage in using an oiler made in accordance with myinvention is that the watchmaker can ll anyy size jewel quickly and witha controlled quantity of oil. The size of the drop of oil on the tip ofthe oiler is controlled by the speed with which it is forced out of thetube, the oiling being accomplished, not directly from the tube but froman oiler tip on a ne wire which carries the oil to be applied to theparts well beyond the end of the tube. A fast ejection causes a largedrop to form, a slower ejection causes a smaller drop to form. Also ifthe drop is found tobe too large it can be reduced in size by drawingthe oiler tip back just to the mouth of the tube, capillary` action willdraw some of the oil from the tip onto the tube. Thus the exact amountof oil required can be controlled with precision by the watchmakerexperienced in such work with a saving of time and protection of the oilagainst contamination by dust, as well as a saving of the watchlubricating oil as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Further objects, advantages and details of my invention will appear inthe following specication supplemented by the accompanying draw-l ingsforming a part thereof and illustrating a highly satisfactory`embodiment of an oiler in accordance with my invention.

Inl the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of an oiler and Ysuitable cover inIaccordance with my invention, the cover member being illustrated inlongitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the oiler on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a greatly magnified fragmentary side elevation view of theoiler tip.

Fig. 5 is la fragmentary sectional View of the lower portion of theoiler illustrating on a greatly magnified scale and showing by dottedlines the operation of iling a jewel and cap.

Fig. 6 is a greatly magnified cross sectional view of a properly oiledjewel and cap.

Referring to theV drawings in general the oiler, in accordance with myinvention, includes a main casing I0 with a closure cap Il at the upperend, and a plug l2 at the lower end carrying a capillary tube I3. Aguide rod Iii, extending through an axial aperature 30 in the cap II andinto the casing I0, free of the interior Wall thereof, carries an oilerwire I5 coaxial with and extending from the inner end of the rod. Thefree end of the oiler wire is provided with an oiler tip I6 normallydisposed, when the oiler is not in use, in the capillary tube I3. Anoperating nger piece I1 is provided on the outer end of rod I4 and adust cap I8l may be providedfor the oiler, When not in use.

The construction resembles in some Ways the fountain type of oilerswhich have numeroue disadvantages; they usually hold too much oil4 thattakes weeks, even months, of use to reduce .to the point of recleaningand relling. They are often left on the bench exposed to'dist andgrimew'it'h both ends open and oily, and likelihood of the oil becomingrancid or' polluted. Oil left' for any length .of time iii fountainoilers is. exposed to iight arie air, meer; is detrimental, and inprac-V ticjeu is found that tnt-'obtainable sizeof noie or' ehape-of thetip of fountain'type oilers is not soiiofo'otori meer oil oiiineConditions and pariioiliarly for'iewois' and pivots arid 'other'parts insmall watches where precise quantities of oil must be used and placedexactly in the'proper places. Y

` However the. oilor in aooordanoe with the presont' invention iS not ofthe fountain syringe ivre as might'appear from the arrangement of partsas above generally set forth. The casing I containsl but a smallquantity of oil which extends into capillary tube I3 to be dispensedtherefrom in' only `small drops on the oiler tipl at the end of wire I.The action of capillary tube I3 is to retain the oil and a vent passageI9 in the end of closure cap I is provided so that action of rod Iiiwill not operate to eject oil from tube I3.

In detail, casing I0 isl prefer-ably a glass tubing, andmay be lmade ofamber, brown or other colored glass so .as to'protect the oil fromlight. Closure cap II is preferably of flexible metal having acontracted upper end 28 provided with an axial aperture'lii) forslidably receiving the rod 'it the voiit message i9. oxiondirielaterally from the aperture through which rod lli extends y unless theaperture is of such asize as to. permit airfto` flow freely therethroughwithout the'forinetiooo the .ohaiiiiolod' vent passage i9.

Closure capz Il has a rather tight sliding fit on casing I il the lower.end being provided with a kerf 2I so that it can be made to grip'thecasing and only yield to a 'positive movement thereof for changing thelongitudinal position of the cap on'thefCSilg. vRod Iii is provided withai ollar 272 and between it and the end of casing II) a compressionspring 23 is positioned for normally holding the rodin its upper normalor first position with the'collar sealing the air vent passage throughthe end 2 0 of the cap and retracting the o'iler'tip IG into capillarytube I3 except when the rod I i is rst manually depressed to a Secondposition, whereupon 4the vent passage is immediately opened to.communicate with the interior `of the casing. 'The provision of thesliding fit of' closure cap II. on casing. I0 affords a means for a'slight adjustment of the overall lengthl of the oiler, the adjustment ofthe stroke of the rod and spring pressure in accordance with the desiresof the operator of the oiler in order to obtain the proper touch indelicate operations thereby facilitating thev control in the amount ofoil dispensed; andthe cooperation of the c ap I I with' thev casing alsoaffords means for adjust- 4 ment of the extent the oiler tips I6 may beprojected from capillary tube I3, to a third position shown by dashlines in Fig. 5. Also closure cap II may be entirely removed along withrod I4 and its associated parts, when the casing is to be supplied withlubricating oil and when it is desired to thoroughly clean the oiler asis necessary on occasions. For filling, oil may be drawn into casing bysuction o n the casing with the capillary tube I 3 immersed in thesupply oil.

Plug I2 has the capillary tube I3 secured therein and the upper end ofthe tube is preferably flared outwardly as shown at 24 so as to guideiler tip I6 on wire I5 into capillary tube I3 when it is placed thereinor replaced after filling or cleaning "the oiler.

.As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the lower end of oiler wire I5 isattened out into a miniature spoon shape to provide the oiler tip I6which eidciently carries a controlled drop or amount of lubricating oilin accordance with the slow or fast operationof rod Id as referred tohereinbefore.

in Fg- 5 the moet .Bent .manner of .operation of Vthe oiler 4isillustrated on a magnified scale, with the end of the capillary tube I3at a considerable distance from a jewel bearing element 25 and 'cap 25,In lig. 5 the element 25 is shown as receiving a proper amount of oil 2lfrom the projected oiler tip It illustrated. projected in broken lines.With such proper amount of oil dispensed to the elements, lov Capillaryaoiioo vof the jewel and cap eiements, the moves to .the position shownin Fig. 6 illustrating the jewel and cap as boing properly oiled.without having the oil come into engagement with the metallic elements28 Ain which they are mounted.

When not in use the oiler may have its lower end incased in a dust coverI8 which is provided with a spring retainer 2,9 as illustrated in Fig.l. During periods or use however this dust cover is removed' and the oilremains fresh and clean and except when the rod is depressed in an oilngoperation, the Vent opening in upper closure ycap II is sealed by collarrIvhe lower or capillary tube It contains the oil in the tube relativelyprotected from dirt, since the tube end is small. should 'me tube piel;up dirt it will be noticed that,y as the Arod isdepressed, the oil inthe bottom of the tube is forced out by the oiler wire I and forms adrop outside the tube leaving only fresh oil on the oiler tipV I6,previously gathered farther back in the Sullo.

I t will be seen from the foregoing that the 911er is particularlyadapted for operating on the smaller sizes of watches requiring mostdelicate touch and precision in oiling operations. In actual use I havefound a capillary tube of .020" bore and oiler wire or" .0055" diameterwith a tip flattened to spoon-like' shape of .0015. thickness, both o fstainless steelvmaterialjto be highly practical. However it is notdesired toA limit the invention to. such sizes or materials as` variouschanges may be made within the scope of my invention as. set forth` inthe following claims.

I claim: u

1. A watch oiler comprisingk a tubular main casing, a capillary tube incommunication therewith and extending longitudinally from one endthereof, a closure cap. carried by the other end of said casing and;extending longitudinally therefrom. said closure cap having an axialaperture and an air vent Piazssage open` to they interior of said casingadjacent to said aperture, a'rod extending through said aperture andinto. said casing, a collar on said rod Within said cap normallyengaging said cap and closing said vent passage, a spring operating onsaid collar to yieldably main tain the rod at the outer end of itsstroke :against the inner portion of the cap so as to seal said ventpassage in the cap, and an oiler wire secured to and extending from vtheinner end of the rod through said casing and normally disposed with itsfree end in said capillary tube and adapted to be projected through andbeyond the end of the capillary tube by depressing the rod against theaction o1 said spring,

2. A watch oile'r comprising a tubular main casing, a capillary tube incommunication thereF with and extending rlongitudinally from one endthereof, a closure cap telescopically carried by the other end of saidcasing and extending lon-- gitudinally therefrom, a rod extendingthrough the outer end of said cap and into said casing, a collar on saidrod 'within said cap limiting the outward stroke of the rod, and anoiler wire secured to and extending from the inner end or" the rodthrough said casing and normally disposed with its free end in saidcapillary tube and adapted to be projected through the capiln lary tubeby an inward movement oi the rod, said closure cap having a irictionalholding engagement on the main casing whereby it may be longitudinallyadjusted thereon and thereby vary the overall length of the o iler andthe exe tent to which the oiler Wire may be projected in or beyond theend of the capillary tube.

3. A watch oiler comprising a tubular main casing, a capillary tube incommunication there- With and extending longitudinally from one endthereof, a closure cap teleseopically carried` by the other end of saidcasing and extending longitudinally therefrom, a rod extending throughthe outer end of said cap and into said easing, a collar on said rodwithin said cap limiting the outward stroke oi the rod, a compressionspring between the collar on the rod and the end of the main casingyieldingly maintaining the rod at the outer limit of its strolfze, andan oiler wire secured to and extending from theinner end of the rodthrough said casing and normally disposed with its free end in saidcapillary tube and adapted to be projected through the capillary tube byan inward movement of the rod, said closure cap having a irictionalholding engagement on the main casing whereby it may be longitudinallyadjusted thereon and thereby vary the overall length of the oiler andthe extent to which the oiler wire may be projected beyond the end ofthe capillary tube, and to vary the eiect of the compression spring onthe rod.

4. A watch oiler comprising a tubular main casing adapted to receive aquantity of oil, a capillary tube in lcommunication with the inE teriorof said casing and` extending from one end of the casing in coaxialrelationship therewith, a cap at the other end of said casing providedwith an air vent passage communicating with the interior of said casing,a rod extending through saidcap and into said casing free of the innerwall thereof, means carried by said rod normally closing said ventpassage when the rod is in a first position, and immediately openingsaid vent passage when the rod is depressed to second position, and anoiler wiresecured to and extending from the inner end of said rod, anddisposed with its free end in said capillary tube when said rod is insaid first and second positions and to be extended from said capillarytube when the rod is further depressed to a third position.

5. A watch oiler comprising a tubular main casing adapted to receive aquantity of oil, a capillary tube in Ycornnninicaticn with the in teriorof said casing and extending from one end of the casing in coaxialrelationship therewith, a cap at the other end of said casing providedwith an air vent passage communicating with the interior of said casing,a rod extending through said cap and into said casing free of the innerwall thereof, means carried by said rod normally closing said ventpassage when the rod is in a rst position, and immediately opening saidvent passage when the rod is depressed to second position, and an oilerwire secured to and extending from the inner end of said rod, providedwith a attened spoon shaped tip at its free endportion, disposed in saidcapillary tube when said rod is in said first and second positions andto be extended from said capillary tube when the rod is furtherdepressed to a third position to carry the oil from the cap illary tubeto a point beyond the end thereof.

HERMAN R. KOLLMEYER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 696,384 Wall et al. Mar. 25, 1902 1,071,063 Lee Aug. 26, 19131,941,751 Lupo Jan. 2, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 210,119Switzerland Aug. 16, 1940 247,047 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1947

